South Carolina Fiction Project

This annual writing competition, sponsored by The Post and Courier and the South Carolina Arts Commission, calls for previously unpublished short stories of 2,500 words or less. The stories do not need to be Southern, nor do they need to be set in South Carolina, although such stories are acceptable for consideration.

Up to 12 short stories will be selected for publication; each writer whose work is selected will receive $500 from The Post and Courier, which purchases first publication rights. Stories will also be published electronically by putting them on both The Post and Courier’s website and the Arts Commission’s web site.

Eligibility Requirements
The applicant must:

1. Be a legal resident of South Carolina
2. Be 18 years of age or older at the time of application

Restrictions

1. The previous year’s winners are not eligible to apply again for two years (policy is on-a-year/off-two-years).
2. Previously published stories may not be submitted. SCAC must be notified immediately if a story is published after submission to the SC Fiction Project.
3. Only one short story per writer will be accepted and no stories will be returned. 

Deadline: POSTMARKED January 15

Reading Fee: None

Review Process
Stories will be judged by a panel of professional writers; selection will be based on literary quality and suitability for a general newspaper audience.

Required Application Materials

1. Program Application form - Page 1 Only - An original completed and signed Program Application form (PDF).
   (How to use PDFs)
   
   • Page 1 - Complete in full and sign. Enter the title of your story on the "Other" line.
   • Pages 2 & 3 are not required.
   NOTE: Application forms may be completed on your computer, printed out, and mailed. To use the PDF forms, first you need to download and install the FREE Adobe Acrobat Reader 5. Instructions on using PDF files)
   
   
2. Story - Send four (4) stapled copies of the story; must be typed, double-spaced. The author’s name should not appear anywhere on the copies, but the story’s title must be included. All submissions should be sent to:
   
   South Carolina Fiction Project
   South Carolina Arts Commission
   1800 Gervais Street
   Columbia, SC 29201
   
   

Winners will be notified and posted on the SC Arts Commission web site by the first of July. Note: Incomplete applications will not be processed.